Let the people sing? Irish rebel songs, sectarianism, and Scotland's Offensive Behaviour Act

Millar, Stephen R.

doi:10.1017/s0261143016000519

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Some Celtic fans draw a distinction between songs invoking the War of Irish Independence (1919)(1920)(1921) led by the 'Old' IRA of the 1920s and those relating to the role of the Provisional IRA and several other IRA-titled organisations, during Northern Ireland's Troubles (these later organisations are proscribed and hence in law associated with terrorism). However, that these groups became known simply as 'the IRA', and that chants invoking them are often shortened to 'IRA', renders such distinctions problematic (Millar 2016 experienced as sectarian for large sections of Scottish society, by their repeated usage in divisive social contexts over time (Millar 2016).…”

Section: Song As a Microcosm Of The Definitional Debate Surrounding 'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sectarianism in Scotland: A ‘West of Scotland’ Problem, a Patchwork or a Cobweb?

Goodall¹,

McKerrell²,

Markey³

et al. 2015

Scottish Affairs

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Drawing on research carried out for the Scottish Government in 2014, this article explores how people experience sectarianism in Scotland today. For some, sectarianism is manifestly part of their everyday experience, but for others it is almost invisible in their social world. The article sets out a metaphor of sectarianism experienced like a cobweb in Scotland; running strongly down the generations and across masculine culture particularly, but experienced quite differently by different people depending on their social relationships. Using the examples of song and marching, the article suggests that sectarian prejudice should be conceived of as much as a cultural phenomenon as in social and legal terms. A multidisciplinary and intergenerational approach to tackling sectarian prejudice would help emphasise its cultural and relational construction. Much can also be learned from examining the broader research on prejudice worldwide, rather than treating Scottish sectarianism as if it is a unique and inexplicable quality of the national character.

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Section: Song As a Microcosm Of The Definitional Debate Surrounding 'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sectarianism in Scotland: A ‘West of Scotland’ Problem, a Patchwork or a Cobweb?

Goodall¹,

McKerrell²,

Markey³

et al. 2015

Scottish Affairs

Self Cite

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“…Whether that be the thumping of the lambeg, the whistling of the tin flute, or the sectarian songs of the republicans and loyalists, music especially demarcates the borders of the two cultures. Used in a sectarian manner, music can be used as a weapon, as witnessed at association football games, to offend the opposing group (Bairner, 1999; Millar, 2016). Certain songs have such symbolic potency, Cooper (2010) explains, and that merely whistling a handful of notes can be enough to incite violence in particular circumstances.…”

Section: Sectarianism At Ballycross Rfcmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It’d Just Be Banter”: Sectarianism in a Northern Irish Rugby Club

Kavanagh

2019

Cultural Studies ↔ Critical Methodologies

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Nearly two decades after the Good Friday Agreement, sectarianism still functions to structure much of the Northern Irish society. While this is often considered in terms of high-profile cases of sectarian violence, most sectarian behavior occurs in everyday practices. This article explores how sectarianism is expressed and understood within the context of a Northern Irish rugby club. I conducted a season-long ethnography using participant observation, focus group discussions, and semistructured interviews to gain an understanding of the particular context which framed the sectarian discourses at the club. Rather than a purely oppressive model, Ballycross RFC showcased how the sectarian climate of the Northern Irish society can be used and experienced in a multitude of ways.

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“…Beyond their efforts to promote collective singing and holding political displays, former Celtic player and manager Davie Hay has criticised the latter group for their more illicit behaviour during matches, including the unveiling of a banner with 'Hun Scum' written on it in September 2016. 1 However, the 'Green Brigade' themselves would refute any allegations of sectarianism, referring to themselves as 'anti-fascist' and 'anti-sectarian' (Lavalette and Mooney, 2013), with the singing of pro-IRA songs viewed as a legitimate expression of Irish republicanism which the Scottish government tried to 'criminalise' through the introduction in 2012 of legislation banning 'offensive' singing (Millar, 2016). This argument is relatively well supported by academics and appears to follow that which Armstrong (1998) made in relation to the Football Offences Act (1991); that football fans are being 'criminalised' in an 'age of intolerance' (Waiton, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

And this is what we sing – what do we sing? Exploring the football fan songs of the Northern Irish ‘Green and White Army’

Bell¹,

Bell

2020

International Review for the Sociology of Sport

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This paper draws upon digital recordings of Northern Ireland football fans singing in the stadium during all 10 qualifying matches for the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship. Supplemented by participant observation and interview data with 21 supporters themselves, the paper challenges assertions within the literature which focus upon the predominance of sectarian singing amongst a section of Northern Ireland football supporters. Although vocal manifestations of football fandom may initially appear to be randomly driven by irrational emotions, on the contrary, there is an underlying structure and sequence to fandom in the stadium in which certain factors promote collective singing at particular times. The paper identifies four key themes in particular: the timing in a match; whether or not a goal has been scored; if there is a lull or a break in play; and the use of musical instruments to encourage the wider collective to sing. We argue that it is important to understand the process by which collective singing occurs in the football stadium rather than fixating upon the alleged racist or sectarian psychopathology of the individuals involved. Such knowledge may assist in supporting those fan organisations that seek to challenge discriminatory behaviour in the stadium, particularly in the current context of the European (UEFA) and World football governing bodies (FIFA) punishing fans collectively, regardless of whether or not the majority in the stadium are opposed to what is being sung in their name.

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Let the people sing? Irish rebel songs, sectarianism, and Scotland's Offensive Behaviour Act

Abstract: Irish rebel songs afford Scotland's Irish diaspora a means to assert

Cited by 9 publications

References 27 publications

Sectarianism in Scotland: A ‘West of Scotland’ Problem, a Patchwork or a Cobweb?

Sectarianism in Scotland: A ‘West of Scotland’ Problem, a Patchwork or a Cobweb?

“It’d Just Be Banter”: Sectarianism in a Northern Irish Rugby Club

And this is what we sing – what do we sing? Exploring the football fan songs of the Northern Irish ‘Green and White Army’

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